“What would education be like in the perfect school?” This question propelled the foundation of Atat\u00fcrk E\u011fitim Fak\u00fcltesi. It stands as Turkey’s oldest teacher-training institution. Its roots reach back to 1848 with the D\u00e2r\u00fclmuallim\u00een-i R\u00fc\u015fd\u00ee. This was the Teacher Training School for Secondary Education in the Ottoman Empire.
The D\u00e2r\u00fclmuallim\u00een-i R\u00fc\u015fd\u00ee aimed to train teachers for Ottoman junior high schools. These schools were the first modern civilian educational institutions. They were like today’s 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. Back then, no schools trained teachers for elementary education.
In 1869, the education system was reorganized. It followed the French model. This created elementary, secondary, and higher education phases. The goal was to train teachers for elementary and secondary levels.
The D\u00e2r\u00fclmuallim\u00een-i Keb\u00eer emerged in 1874. It had teacher training sections for all levels. Later, it was renamed D\u00e2r\u00fclmuallim\u00een-i \u00c2liye. This institution trained teachers for all stages of education under one roof.
After the republic was declared in 1923, the D\u00e2r\u00fclmuallim\u00een-i \u00c2liye became the Y\u00fcksek Muallim Mektebi. It later became the Higher Teachers School in 1936. It became the sole institution for training high school teachers until 1959.
In 1946, the Atat\u00fcrk Education Institute was founded. It continued the mission of the original school from 1848. It aimed to train high-quality secondary school teachers.
In 1978, the Istanbul Higher Teacher Training School closed. This included the D\u00e2r\u00fclmuallim\u00een-i Keb\u00eer/D\u00e2r\u00fclmuallim\u00een-i \u00c2liye. The Atat\u00fcrk Education Institute also stopped teaching due to unrest. It reopened as the Atat\u00fcrk Higher Teachers School.
In 1982, the Atat\u00fcrk Higher Teachers School became part of Marmara University. It was renamed Atat\u00fcrk Education Faculty. It started with a Higher School of Education and eight departments. The Higher School closed in 1992.
In 1994, several divisions transformed into separate departments. Each offered its own degree program. The faculty then had 17 departments.
In 1998, the Higher Education Council restructured Atat\u00fcrk Education Faculty. The goal was to align its programs with science and arts faculties. The faculty refocused on teacher training.
Today, Atat\u00fcrk Education Faculty includes various divisions. These cover educational sciences, elementary education, and more. It offers qualifications in 21 departments.
Located on Marmara University’s G\u00f6ztepe Campus, Atat\u00fcrk E\u011fitim Fak\u00fcltesi continues its legacy. It has ten academic divisions and twenty-two departments. In 2020-2021, the faculty had 218 teachers and 6,402 students. The restructuring in 1998 added undergraduate and master’s programs. Some programs run jointly with the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. This ensures a balance of theory and practice.
As you stand here, consider the countless educators shaped within these walls. Atat\u00fcrk E\u011fitim Fak\u00fcltesi remains a cornerstone of Turkish education. Its long history and dedication to training teachers have shaped generations.